There is great news for those who choose to bike to work in Marseille, France. Specific signs for pedestrians and bikers have just been installed along the Promenade de l’Huveaune. With all the work being done for the new Vélodrome Stadium, a new walk and bike path has been created along Huveaune River between the Michelet Boulevard […]

Ten years after its UNESCO classification, people unanimously agree that the Auguste Perret style has led to a more positive perception of Le Havre, France. However, several dissonant voices express that it is not always easy to live in such a monument. “I am not afraid to say it: I would prefer to not have […]

On the brink of revising its policy on alley greenery, Quebec City, Quebec entrusted the organization Votepour.ca with conducting a large survey of citizens and businesses in the neighborhood of Limoilou, in order to better understand their needs, how they use alleys, and the projects associated with their communities. How do we use the Limoilou’s alleys? […]

The future pedestrian boulevards of the Brussels City Center will be the stage for recreational and cultural activities throughout the summer. Officially, the date of pedestrianization of the space opened June 29th. The city kicked-off the launch with a series of events related to being a pedestrian, led by a performance by the “Standing Man,” a giant wicker marionette standing […]

In the centre of Vietnam sits a small city with immense historic significance. Here collide the defining ingredients of Vietnam’s contemporary character, those engendered by its rich and chaotic history. The romantic Imperial past, the influence of French colonialism, the devastation of a generation-long war, Marxist ideology, and capitalist pragmatism have all played their part […]

Cairo’s thousand year reign as the capital of Egypt is under threat by a new capital. Set to rise from the desert sand just east of Cairo, the new capital is estimated to cover an astonishing 270 square miles and cost $45 billion. Already being dubbed as the “new New Cairo” of Egypt, not to be […]

In Versailles, contemporary architecture is making timid forays into the city under the omnipresent eye of Louis XIV. This is an exercise with high risk for the city which is constrained by its imposing heritage. In some places, matte steel and sculpted concrete sit side by side with 300-year old gilded stone … a complicated marriage […]

Have you heard of the UK’s Center Parcs? They are a network of vacation villages that require you to do only one thing: leave your car outside the park and get around the village by foot or bike. This is a bit of the philosophy that has been adopted by the Matexi group, developer of a new […]

On April 30th, Vietnam celebrated forty years since the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of North and South Vietnam. It was on that date in 1975 that North Vietnam and her allies in the Liberation Army of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) seized Saigon, which at that time was operating as the southern capital. […]

Brest, France is often known as “Brest the White” or “Brest the Grey.” But what if these qualifiers were to become obsolete one day? It is possible that things are moving a bit in that direction. This month, the subject of coloring the city was at the center of an ambitious meeting at the Mac-Orlan Center. […]

The Grand-Claud eco-neighborhood in Lurais, France is set to be a national example. The 470,000 Euro project, which started in 2009, took a long time to come to fruition. But, as of a few days ago, Lurais is in possession of the property for its new eco-neighborhood. The inauguration of the site permitted spectators to explore […]

Following the recent particulate pollution episodes that touched Paris, City Hall has unveiled its solution: the 2015-2020 Bike Plan. Through this major 150 million Euro project, those in charge hope to not only improve air quality but the comfort and security of the capital city’s 225,000 regular bikers. The goal: “turn Paris into the biking […]

How big is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam? Any newcomer to this sprawling conurbation would be forgiven for thinking it infinite, especially if they find themselves in the labyrinthine, haphazard sprawl of its periphery. In reality of course, the city (known to most locals by its historical name, Saigon) has its limits, even if those […]

2015 is an important year for Milan, Italy. Expo 2015 is attracting a lot of international attention, as time is ticking down to the great event. But even without Expo taking place, Milan is still a focal point during this time of year due to its prestigious Design Week. The International Furniture Fair, better known as […]

1.3 billion tons of waste is generated each year in cities worldwide. With a rabid consumerist hunger, it is unsurprising that 30% of the world’s waste comes from America. San Francisco is hoping to change this by becoming the first major U.S. city to reach a “zero-waste” goal by 2020. This not only means recycling […]

When it comes to finding available, unique spaces in San Francisco, tech companies like Twitter, AirBnB, and countless others take on a hermit crab approach. Limited space, dense urban conditions, and nightmarish building regulations make it nearly impossible to build from the ground up. In response, tech companies have resorted to adaptive reuse. Repurposing neglected […]

Phnom Penh, Cambodia has had a tumultuous history that spans architectural ingenuity to human tragedy. It is currently undergoing a rapid phase of urbanization and modernization. As this sleepy city steadily grows, many new structures are changing the face of Cambodia’s capital. There are mounting concerns about how such change could affect the city’s culture, […]

Surrounded by water, San Francisco sits as a sacrificial offering, waiting to be swallowed by the Pacific Ocean. The year is 2072 and San Francisco is an island. Downtown has been erased and gentrification in the Mission has finally laid to rest at the bottom of “Mission Gulf.” What was once a high powered tech city […]

What is the best way to fight against the ghettoisation of disadvantaged neighborhoods? Roland Castro, architect and urban planner in charge of the Banlieues 89 project and a member of the Atelier International du Grand Paris, notably proposes a Central Park for greater Paris. We asked him what projects most urgently needed to be put […]

The phrase “dangerous by design” embodies the reality of San Francisco streets. Biking down Market street during the five o’clock rush, I had no idea my biggest fear would come true: I lost a hopeless battle with a bus for a spot in a shared bike lane. I was pushed onto streetcar tracks where my front […]